Los Angeles defector

Murky River

Two days' journey north from the unnamed village, there is a Great North Manor, which is much larger in both area and population compared to the unnamed village.

Surrounded by mountains, it is considered a large village in the surrounding area.

A murky river flows around the village, bringing more vitality to the area.

Now finally understand.

The vampires' battle objective is a multi-pronged attack, but with significant intervals.

The various resistance forces have interrupted the execution of their mission orders, opting instead to maneuver covertly.

The Independent Brigade is currently stationed at this Great North Manor.

The Independent Brigade is fortunate because they happened to evade the main force of the vampires, but at the same time, they also have their misfortune, which is the uncertain fate of the Second Platoon left in the unnamed village.

Currently, the Independent Brigade is severely understrength, with a serious shortage of personnel.

Despite being a brigade, it only has a little over four hundred personnel.

As a last resort, the battalion-level organization has been dissolved, consolidating into three companies.

The Second Company is likely facing great danger, making their situation even more precarious.

The top priority is recuperation and regrouping.

The location of Great North Manor is very suitable for this purpose, and both the brigade commander and the staff officer have set their sights on this place, determined to start afresh and resettle here.

It's another new beginning, with recruitment, construction, training, and various other tasks keeping the entire Independent Brigade busy, making Great North Manor a bustling and lively place.

An old resistance fighter sat by the muddy waters of the Hunshui River on the edge of the village, puffing on a cigarette with a crackling sound, occasionally coughing.

With a face full of wrinkles, nearing fifty years of age, he was originally a simple and honest farmer.

He joined the resistance army in 1928 when he was in his thirties, and after being wounded in multiple battles and with his advancing age, his superiors considered promoting him to a cadre or political worker.

However, he knew his honest nature and abilities were not suited for those roles and decisively declined, content to remain a soldier.

In order to take care of his health, he was assigned as the head of the cooking squad, and to this day, he is known as Max Bull.

Uncle Bull is alone without any relatives.

After Emily's parents passed away, she was practically raised by Uncle Bull alone.

Since receiving the news of the vampire attack on the nameless village, his wrinkles have multiplied and deepened, carving into his face like knife marks, making him appear even older.

He sits by the muddy waters of the river, smoking vigorously, squinting his eyes as he gazes towards the distant mountains to the south.

As he grew older and witnessed much of life and death, Uncle Bull shouldn't have clung to such fantasies.

Yet, he still hasn't given up on the illusion that the pair of braids will suddenly appear in the distance at some point, swaying in the wind, swaying down the mountain, swaying across the river, all the way until they sway to his side, saying she's hungry.

The river flows silently, seemingly able to sense the sorrow of the old soldier by its banks, hearing his murmured whispers.

"Ah—poor girl," Uncle Bull thinks, "I'm clumsy, only able to teach you to braid two braids.

Though they may be poorly done, in Uncle Bull's eyes, they look the best on your head, even more beautiful than our regiment's flag.

" Uncle Bull knows you won't die, you've just grown wild.

When you've had enough of your madness, you'll come back, right? Uncle Bull has secretly saved some flour for you.

When you return, Uncle Bull will make noodles for you to eat.

.

.

A soldier from the cooking squad hurriedly ran towards the riverbank, shouting as he ran, "Uncle Bull, Uncle Bull, you need to come and see, Second Platoon, Second Platoon is back, Second Platoon is back!" Uncle Bull stood up abruptly, disregarding the sparks in his cigarette, and with long strides, he rushed towards the village.

Upon hearing the news about Second Platoon, the regimental commander and the chief of staff hurriedly arrived at the village just as Second Platoon was entering.

About seventeen or eighteen soldiers, battered and bruised, walked forward, carrying a stretcher with Slashmaster unconscious on it.

When Second Platoon broke out of the unnamed village, there were still around thirty to forty soldiers.

In order to buy time for the villagers to the west, they did not immediately flee after breaking out, but instead led the vampires on a chase, resulting in even greater casualties for Second Platoon.

They narrowly avoided being surrounded again.

Slashmaster was critically injured during the pursuit and was rescued by the soldiers, fleeing northwards until now.

The regimental commander deliberately forced a smile, breaking the somber atmosphere, "Good.

Good.

Well done! Stop standing there and help out!" After speaking, he directed everyone to quickly settle Second Platoon.

Chief of Staff David Ding carefully inquired about the situation in the unnamed village with the soldiers of Second Platoon.

He noticed Sandy Sniffles standing at the rear of the platoon, so he walked over and patted his shoulder, "Where's the little girl?" After being beaten by Jason in the unnamed village, Sandy Sniffles went to find support from Slashmaster.

However, he arrived just as the battle began and ended up joining the fight with Second Platoon, participating in the breakout and surviving the ordeal.

Along with the dozen or so surviving soldiers from Second Platoon, they ran for two days and two nights without rest or water, their uniforms in tatters, nearing the brink of collapse.

Eventually, they encountered the hidden sentries arranged by the Independent Regiment on the outskirts and arrived at the Great North Manor.

Now, as the Chief of Staff placed a hand on his own shoulder, Sandy Sniffles couldn't help but cry first.

"Woo-woo—" Although mentally prepared, the sound of crying still made David Ding's heart sink suddenly.

War was just this real, this cruel—it didn't favor anyone based on age, gender, or any other factors.

Reluctant as he was, he had to accept it.

In a solemn tone, he asked, "How did she die?" Sandy Sniffles wiped his nose.

"I, I don't know.

" "Not sure?" This answer left David Ding somewhat dissatisfied.

Looking at the tearful Sandy Sniffles, he furrowed his brow.

"Alright, enough crying.

Can you stop for a moment? You're the squad leader, and she's your soldier.

Tell me, what exactly happened?" Sandy Sniffles managed to stop crying reluctantly and said bitterly, "It was all because of that government army deserter! He took unauthorized command, acted on his own, disobeyed orders, assaulted officers, and fled in the heat of battle!" Unable to fully understand, David Ding quickly prompted Sandy Sniffles, "Explain the situation clearly first, be mindful of your wording.

" "He, Jason, instructed Martin to convey messages to the civilians in the name of the regiment without the permission of the platoon leader.

I told him he was violating discipline and tried to stop him.

As a result, he hit me, kicked me into a pit.

By the time I got up, he had already fled without a trace.

So, I went to join the battle with the platoon.

" As Sandy Sniffles was speaking, Uncle Bull happened to arrive at the scene and heard these words.

Ignoring the presence of the regimental commander and the staff officer on the side, he walked over a few steps and asked Sandy Sniffles directly, "Don't waste time talking nonsense.

Where's the little girl? What happened to her? Where is she?" "I was about to join the battle, how could I care about so much? She was always with that deserter.

Either they deserted together in the face of battle, or they ran off with the civilians! Or maybe.

.

.

" Uncle Bull is an honest and easy-going person who never confronts others.

However, witnessing Sandy Sniffles speak so casually and confidently, all the distress and worries of the past few days finally erupted.

In a moment of forgetting that the regimental commander and staff officer were present, he grabbed Sandy Sniffles by the collar, raised his hand, and with a heavy smack, landed a resounding slap that knocked Sandy Sniffles to the ground, causing stars to dance before their eyes and blood to trickle from the corner of their mouth.

"You, you're her squad leader! She's your soldier! How could you abandon her! How could you bear to do that! Do you even know why we allowed her to become a warrior! I'll beat you to death right now, you heartless creature!" Uncle Bull grew angrier and more agitated as he spoke, and once again lunged towards Sandy Sniffles, who hadn't yet managed to get back up.